As you are no doubt aware by now, the GMA finally decided to end the months of speculation and announce the 2020 Victorian duck season. Our organisation has been scheduling meetings with numerous members of parliament to negotiate a resolution to this situation. While we are glad to have the GMA show its hand finally, we are incredibly disappointed with the drastically reduced season they have now announced.
This unprecedented late announcement, in combination with a heavily reduced season, has left us incredibly disappointed. The delays and lack of transparency in this process have shown the shooting community and the regional communities that rely on the season, nothing but contempt.
While we fully support the sustainable management of duck numbers to preserve them for future generations, this process appears to have resulted in nothing of the sort. We have also been receiving reports that the figures the GMA is using to estimate populations are flat out wrong, with some suggestions those with other goals at heart have hijacked the process.
With the incredible rains over much of Eastern Australia, it seems clear that duck populations are on track for a remarkable recovery. This reduced season appears to us to be an unjust restriction on the community, based on bad data and willful ignorance.
If this reprehensible treatment angers you as much as us, we encourage you to contact your local MP: (https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/electorates)
And remember this come election time and cast your vote for parties and politicians that actually support us.
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